Calls for MPs to 'Back British Farming' and protect food standards as the Agricultural Bill gets set to return to the House of Commons

Campaigners are calling on MPs to ‘Back British Farming’ and support the amendments voted through in the House of Lords to protect UK food standards and give the Trade and Agriculture Commission more teeth.

Former Yorkshire MP and now Peer, Baroness McIntosh of Pickering said the Government must remember its manifesto promise.

“Conservative MPs were elected in 2019 on a strong mandate for upholding our high standards of farm production in terms of animal health and welfare, food safety and protection of the environment.

“Next week in the Commons, they will have the chance to confirm this commitment by supporting two amendments carried in the Lords.

“The first amendment put forward by Labour Peer, Lord Granchester, makes a specific requirement that agricultural and food imports meet domestic standards of production.

“The other by Lord Curry, gives Parliament powers to oversee the work of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, for the Commission to recommend how to monitor imports of agri-food products in order to assess and compare standards of production.”

Baroness McIntosh said failure by MPs to accept these amendments would let down farmers and consumers who “overwhelmingly support” our high standards of domestic production.

“Local MPs must answer to farmers and consumers in their constituencies across Yorkshire which is one of the largest farming and food producing regions in the country,” she said.

Baroness McIntosh also referenced the 1990 UK ban on sow stalls and tethers while still importing pork produced in countries where their use was still allowed.

A point Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade, Emily Thornberry, put to her counterpart, Liz Truss, in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The two clashed during international trade questions as Ms Thornberry warned of the impact the Government’s post-Brexit policy could have on British farmers.

Ms Thornberry said: “If it is (Ms Truss’s) argument that we don’t need Labour’s amendments because bans on relevant imports are already enshrined in law, can she please tell us which law prevents the import of pork that has been produced on American farms that continue to use sow stalls?”

Ms Truss responded that it was an animal welfare issue not one of food safety. However, Ms Thornberry said if the Government dropped tariffs on US pork, British pork farmers would be undercut by “cheap imports” from American agricultural companies using practices that have been banned in the UK for the last 21 years.

In an earlier response to Labour’s Cat Smith, Ms Truss said: “We’re absolutely clear that we’re going to stand up for our high standards in any deal we strike, including with the United States, and making sure that the high standards our farmers operate to will not be undermined.”

Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, added his voice to those calling on MPs to back the amendments. Ahead of a visit to NFU President Minette Batter’s farm, Sir Keir called on the Prime Minister to back British farmers and guarantee the UK’s high food and farming standards in law after Brexit.

*A new ‘shadow panel’ has been set up to look at ways to protect food standards in trade deals.

The Future British Standards Coalition, is made up of, among others, farming groups, public health practitioners, caterers and food and animal welfare experts, chaired by Sustain CEO Kath Dalmeny.

The coalition met for the first time this week to discuss how to maintain food standards. It will also be issuing a report on Monday, which it says will show trade deals can be struck while insisting on high standards.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson